The Portland daily press., 1887-05-05
FOREIGN.
Government Position Regarding the
Times-DIlIon Affair.
The Question stIIIi Under consIdera-
tIon in the House OF Commons.
Seven Persons Condemned to Death
for Plotting Against the czar.

that the government had resolved that the
allegation that the statement by the London
Times that Mr.. Dillon told falsehood while
denying in the House that papers utteranees
concerning his alleged relations with Mr..
Sheridan, the Invincible, was a breach OF
privilege, was not sustained by precedent
Continuing, Mr.. Smith said 1t would be
against the dignity of the House to summon
the Times to the bar without previously in
quiring into the circumstances. The gentle
men below the gangway, Mr., Smith added,
asked that select committee be constituted
to inquire forthwith into the allegations Of
the Times. The practice Of the House had
been to divest itself as far as possible, Of ju-
dicial duty. The government thought such
committee as was asked for would be unfit
ted to consider such grave questions as
would have to he referred TO il for decision.
The government, feeling it to be their duty
to endeavor to solve the question, had in
structed the attorney general and such 9TH
ers as he cared to associate with him to pros
ecute the Times for the libel on Mr.. Dillon,
who was at liberty to select such counsel as
he saw fit. In conclusion, Mr.. Smith urged
the House to accept the course proposed.
Sir William Vernon Harcourt denounced
the governments proposal.
Sir Edward Clarke, solicitor general.
moved an amendment to the governments,
proposal to the effect that the House did not
consider the Times statements concerning
Dlllon's breach Of privilege, justifying his
action in offering an amendment. Sir Ed
ward declared there was no record Of Par
Lament having committed to custody for a
breach OF privilege such as the action of the
Times was now alleged to be. He added
that he and the attorney general were re-
sp0nsible for the advice on which the gov
ernment had acted. He proposed to confine
himself to the legal points of the case regard
less of party politics. He then quoted pre-
QQ6Qnfl fO h0 xuac nO a
tribunal to deal with such matters. No corr
ruption had been alleged of member. nor
had any contempt of the House been exhib-
lted such as had constituted an offence in
previous cases when breach of privilege
had been committed. The course of the
prosecution, the solicitor general said, could
be left to such person as the Irish members
might nominate both for counsel and solicit
tors. III the government were asked to ap-
point them they would interp0se no objec-
tion. In conclusion, Sir Edward slightly
modified his amendment. making it read.
that the House declines to treat the Times
publication as breach of privilege.
Sir Charles Russell contended that as Dill
lon conduct in the House had been attacked,
that fact constituted a breach of privilege,
and 1t was the duty Of the House and pri-
marily incumbent on the government leader
OF the House, Mr.. Smith, to take action to
protect the honor of its members. The
course proposed by the Governments motion
was an evasion of duty. The question was
not so much whether a committee should be
appointed as whether the House intended to
pass by the imputation against Dillon, and
say before the world that as fragrant as the
ofense was, it was of such character as
constituted breach Of privilege.
Lord Randolph Churchill admitted that
the case presented primd .fdcie breach Of
privilege. He regarded the resort to the
ordinary tribunals of law one that would af-
ford far better remedy than could be OBJ
tanned from action by the House. He depre-
Gated the attack made by O'Connor on the
government leader in the House. No one
outside of O'Connor's own circle could be
expected to sympathize with him in such an
assault. 1t was utterly unjustifable From
the very language used Smith could well af-
ford to prove the assault. (Cheers) III the
government leader in the House was charged
with not taking primary action on behalf of
tne House Tor breach OF privilege commit
ted against one of the members, he could re-
tort that it was the leader of the opposition
who ought to have been expected TO protect
his friends, having taken lead outside the
House IN the agitation for repeal Of the
Union. (Cheers.)
Mr.. Gladstone-'I emphatically repudiate
the assertion of his lordship."
Lord Randolph resp0nded-"It is true,
however" He then proceeded to argue that
It would be unwise for the House TO go be-
yond the action the government had pro-
brought before the bar it would in no wise
curb or control the great power welded by
the press Of the country.
Mr. Storr (RadicaD and newspaper pro-
prietor-Iou can try to suppress the press Of
Ireland. Parnellite cheers.)
Lord Randolph Churchill-How would the
committee Of inquiry be constituted? Would
it be proposed that members Of the National
League be put upon it? Cries of certainly
Lord Randolph-If so. there would be
rt,.l., -
like it. (Cheers) Besides, the powers Of
the committee would not be equal to those of
the court of law. The committee, indeed,
would be hopelessly incompetent to settle
such question Of law as the court could. In
court the prosecution would proceed at the
cost of the country with the employ of any
counsel the Irish members liked TO name. In
this way the truth would be arrived at and
justice done the offenders.
Mr.. Dillon said he did not consider the
ordinary tribunals OF England in the present
state of political feeling on the Irish ques-
tion fairly open to members of the irish
party in tire House of Commons. He there
fore maintained he had right to be heard
before the committee. For six years the
Parnellites have been held up to public
odinm as criminals. Some of them in the
meantime have been imprisoned. Enough
has been done and said in these six years to
prejudice the minds of any English Jury il
were possible to impanel. He must decline
to take proceedings in a civil action against
the Times, because he believed he had no
chance of obtaining a verdict. If, on the
other hand, select committee Of members Of
the House should be appointed to hear the
case, he would be cOntented 1t should be
so constituted as not to include a single
Irish member. (Cheers)
Mr.. Gladstone intimated that in the event
OF the adoption Of Sir Edward Clarke's mo-
tlOn he would move an amendment to the
main question, to the effect that inquiry be
made by the committee into charges of will
full falsehood in a speech delivered in the
House Of Commons, brought in an article by
the Times against Mr.. Dillon (Cheers9
w. III. Smith asked il Mr. Gladstone would
make the motion at once.
Mr.. Gladstone said he was surprised at the
suggestion, coming as 1t did from the gov
ernment leader of the House. For him
(Gladstone) to make such motion at the
present time would be only making c0nfus-
ion, and would tend to obscure the issue if
the course suggested BY Mr.. Smith was fol-
lowed.
On motion Of Mr.. Bradlaugh the debate
was adjourned.
LONDON, May 4-The Panelltes hold a
conference tomorrow to consider the Dillon
Times affair. Mr.. Gladstone spent large
part Of the evening searching for precedents
for the appointment of q select committee to
consider breaches of privilege.
ROME, May 4.-The P0pe has received
letter from the Emperor William, thanking
him for the wise conciliatory cooperation In
settling the ecclesiastical bill, and express
ing the hope that the present religious peace
will never be disturbed.
Foreign Notes.
The Calcutta Englishman confirms the de-
feat of the Ameer's troops. 1t says that the
insurgents now hold khyber Pass and the
surrounding hills, and declares that the In
dian press has over-rated the insurgent loss
es. All Of the Ghilzai attacks have been
more or less successful.
The seven prisoners condemned to death
at st. Petersburg for connection with the re-
cent plot to assassinate the Car are all men.
The ones who were convicted of completely
received various sentences to penal servi-
tude, the most severe being twenty years.